ChiCityBasser

This was a tough event as 69 of 238 or so combined boaters and co-anglers caught fish.

Quantum Energy PT (older blue model) Quantum Accurist PT (last years) Cabelas Prodigy (Grey model)

If it is the older model Accurist PT I would go with it over the PQ and I have both reels as well. That model of Accurist is built very well and my reel has been in service for a number of years without a problem. Gonna come down to a personal preference it seems.

My setup is a custom made 7"3" MH/F rod from RodTech fishing with spiral wrapped guides along with a Quantum Accurist 7.1:1 reel with 15# braid. The setup is light and sensitive

Check out the Field & Stream Tec Spec Elite rods at Dicks. The are $80.00 but go on sale regularly and have the micro guides you are looking for as well. They have a 7' model I believe and a 7'3" model which I have that might should work well.

I have several Quantum casting and spinning models and I have one of the previous model year kinetics to the current red color one and as someone sad its not a bad reel but I would go a step above if it is an option.

Again well done Goose and your report was the reason I purchased a used PQ and knowing what to look for as far as usage from your report has been great. Thanks again for the attention to detail and always informative and enjoy reading each update.

I like the Quantum stuff but the matched PQ combo should work very well.

They just need more boaters to sign up before you are linked and get the confirmation. It is better to link with a boater by going onto the FLW site and posting you need a boater but you will be ok. I'm in the BFL Illini divsion and plenty of co-anglers and boaters try to link up before the events and then sign up with the boater/co angler information.

I have a couple of setups: 7'11" Quantum Superlite H/F (Telescopic),Quantum Accurist 7.0:1 HPT/LH, 50lbs Cajun Braid 7'6" F&S Tec Spec MH/EF (Telescopic) Daiwa Exceler 7.0:1 L/H, 7'3" F&S Tec Spec MH/F,Quantum Energy PT 6.3:1 LH, 15lbs X50 Cabelas Flouro by Seaguar In a pinch I also use: 7' F&S Tec Spec MH/F(Spinning rod), Quantum Catalyst PTiB-20. 15lbs Braid 6'6" Cabelas H/F Rig & Jig casting rod, No reel at this time.

I just picked up the 7' 3" MH/F Tec Sec Elite Micro guide rod from Dick's on sale for $60 and it's normally an $80 rod. I ended up getting an additional $10 off thanks to Diggy, from the board. The rod is super light and the blue rod color is actually growing on me. If the sensitivity is on par with the previous line of Tec Spec rods as I suspect it will be and even better the rod is a steal at $60. I would give them a try over some of the previous rods mentioned.

Try the Tech Spec series of rods from Dicks in either version and you will be satisfied. I have a 7' MH/F spinning rod of the older version and I'm very satisfied with the sensitivity and how it fishes. I use it for bottom contact plastics and for the price it is one of the better rods out. It's also on sale now and so are the Tec Spec Elite Micro rods and picking up the 7'3" MH rod this weekend for the upcoming season.

I've got my eye on 2-3 of them for deep water situations and $15 isn't a bad price as we'll sometimes spend upwards of $150 for a reel and $150-300 for a rod and not to mention line.

Check out the *** *** rods as well

Nice report yet again Goose and rod looks to be close in color to the KVD tour rods.

Check out the Cabelas Prodigy line of rods right at $100 and also check out the Dick's Tec Spec Micro series of rods right at $80. They are both great rods and go out with me Everytime I hit the water. The Tec Spec surprised me with its sensitivity and light weight for the price and it is a great rod.

I have 2 flipping and pitching rods: Quantum Super Lite/Light 7' 11" Telescopic H/F rated for 1/2oz-2oz paired with a Quantum Accurist PT 7.0:1 Burner with 50# Cajun Braid. Tec Spec 7'6" Telescopic MH/EF rated for 1/4oz-1oz paired with a Daiwa Exceler 7.0:1 Burner but being replaced with a Quantum Accurist PT 7.0:1 Burner also.

One of my goals for 2013 is to put some keepers on the board at my FLW BFL events. Finish in the Top 3 at one of my ABA events and the top 5 in at least 2 events. Ok and win one event also..

I have 2 flipping and pitching rods with one being a Quantum Super Lite/Light (depending on where you look) and it is a 7' 11" Telescopic H/F rated for 1/2oz-2oz and weighing 6.2oz. Picked it up off ebay for less than $70. My other rod is a Tec Spec 7'6" Telescopic MH/EF rated for 1/4oz-1oz for $60 from Dick's. I know neither rod is a high end rod but both serve the purpose very very well.

Power Team Lures Craw D'oeuvre

Welcome to BR from the Chicago area

I fish in the FLW events here in IL and at one of the events I was paired with a FLW touring pro who was fishing the BFL, the Everstart series and the Tour. I asked him about fishing all 3 and he said he liked the competition and always had been a competitive person and loved sports. We talked about him just being a regular guy who loved to fish and how much his expenses were to fish all the events. Just for the FLW tour he has to come up with $24K next month for his deposits. Not to mention the Everstart or BFL cash outlay. He mentioned his sponsors provided product for him in the form of rods and reels and misc. things such as plastics and cranks. He caught a 6 lb. keeper early in the morning and nothing the rest of the day with 15 lbs winning the tournament. He taught me alot and allowed me to ask any questions I had for the day and tried to put me on fish as well. All in all he was a regular guy trying to make it in a tough profession. He had the same problems with his kids that I have with mine and the same worries with bills and the wife as we all do. I love to compete also and ended up with 2-3 non keepers that day but agree they are regular guys with a Great Job!

I've purchased used rods and reels to get something I may feel I need or want at the time and have good results with them also. Never been burned by a seller and I agree that you should get as many pics of a product as you can and determine if the usage is something that you can deal with as far as the item.

Great report Goose and your previous report is the reason I purchased a PQ for roughly $40 bucks for deep cranks during the summer. It was only used in a couple of tournament events by me but was very smooth with deep strike crankbaits. It does have the same wear on the brake cylinder that you described and thanks for the information to get a new part as well. Again great report and thanks.

I own one of the Cabelas Prodigy Micro rods and it is lighter than the regular guide rod I have and caught it on sale for $70. During cottonwood time it does get clogged but as someone said so do the regular guides.